Mate of the Alpha (2 page)

Lily had
learned to accept her differences, so maybe that’s why she found it so easy to accept others. She had curves, not the shape most men found appealing. She wasn’t inexperienced, but she’d never been promiscuous. Her one and only lover had put her off men. He’d bruised her heart and sliced her self-confidence to ribbons. He’d been so loving and kind in the beginning, then he’d morphed into a condescending, controlling asswipe.

It would take someone very special to make her want to try again.

She believed her boss was just that man, even with his chauvinistic tendencies. He made her not only want to give love and romance another chance, but he tempted her to try every bad girl scenario that had ever been written. He emoted power, strength, and confidence. And let’s not forget sex. With Ethan Scott the word sex could, and should, be used as an adverb.

His features bordered on
being what some would call feminine, but there was just enough roughness around the edges to prevent anyone from calling him a pretty boy. Besides his tongue-licking-good-body, his hair was black as sin and his eyes were blue as heaven.

There was a
n aura of danger and excitement which, when mingled with his innate charm drew a woman even deeper into his web. He walked down the hallway and women had to wipe away the drool.

So why do yo
u think Ethan would fall in love with someone like you?
Sometimes she hated the voice of reason that popped up its bitchy little head.

Lily
heard the sound of footsteps behind her and turned around. Her smile of welcome grew into a smile of thanks when the sandwiches arrived from the five-star restaurant across town. The desserts should be delivered next. After signing the delivery ticket, she arranged the platters and trays next to the coffeemaker. Her stomach rumbled as she set out the plates, and silverware. She didn’t dare put out paper plates or plastic spoons and forks. Only the best would do for Ethan – real plates and real silverware. Well, not silver seeing how her boss was a wolf shifter. She giggled silently at the thought of his reaction if she did purchase utensils made of pure silver.

“You need to eat
, Lily, before the meeting.”

Lily
’s giggle turned to a squeak as she spun around so fast she almost lost her balance. “You scared me.”

He was standing in
the doorway, his expression brooding. Then a smile slowly tugged at the corner of his lips, making her heart race. Again, with the hot and cold attitude. Brooding one second then practically begging her to run across the room and throw herself into his arms the next.

Gracious. Maybe she was lightheaded from hunger.

Hungry for that yumm-yumm of a man, maybe
. Apparently, her voice of reason was getting a little horny as well.

“Are you afraid of the bi
g, bad wolf, Lily?” Ethan was glad to see the answering twinkle in Lily’s eyes. She was beautiful when she smiled. Hell, she was beautiful period. Even when she smoothed the long swath of hair from her face and secured the thick, curly locks with a large barrette at the nape of her neck. A hairstyle his fingers itched to undo.

H
e wanted to strip away the pinstriped navy suit and finally see the well-rounded body that was pushing both man and wolf to the brink of madness. He wanted to see what she wore underneath. He had fantasies of her being bare beneath the businesslike façade, or wearing silk underthings made to drive a man wild. Did his mate have a lingerie fetish? If not, she soon would once he claimed her.

As it was, he was nearly undone by the sight of her.

In the past, he knew he had gravitated toward women who held only the most basic appeal to him. Thin in body, shallow in nature. He used them for gratification and nothing else, always waiting for the day his mate would walk into his life. A mate like Lily whose full, voluptuous body called to the beast in him. Her full breasts that begged to be kissed. Her curvy legs that pleaded to be spread. Everything about her was delightful. He knew he could spend days with her in and out of bed and never want for anything else.

“I’ll get something during the meeting.”

Ethan straightened from his position against the door. “No, you won’t, you’ll be too busy trying to keep up with the conversation.” He had told her it wasn’t necessary, but she’d insisted on taking notes during every meeting. He had to admit it did help, but when he’d seen how much it stressed her out the first time she did it, he’d ordered her to purchase a recorder, then give the tape to someone else to transcribe. She’d protested and he knew she was afraid he would think she wasn’t doing her job.

In the end, Ethan
had gotten his way. Just like always.

Then why the fuck don’t we have our mate?
his wolf growled.

Lily bent to retrieve a napk
in that had fluttered to floor when he’d startled her and Ethan caught a brief glimpse of the shadowed valley between her breasts. The woman was stacked. From top to bottom. And back up again. Moisture rushed to his mouth and heat pooled in his loins. He wanted to palm those globes, plump the velvety smoothness in his hands and taste her. He’d suck on her nipples until she came, then pump his cock between the mounds until he exploded.

He need
ed to reach down and readjust himself, something he often had to do when she was around. A mixture of amusement and irritation thudded through him.

To distract himself,
he walked to the table, chose a frosted brownie from one of the trays, and bit into it. He wasn’t hungry but he needed something to do with his hands and his mouth before he did something foolish, such as marking Lily.

She pu
t the napkin in the garbage can.

He could tell she was nervous. He heard the thrumming of her
heart, saw the pulse beating in her neck. His heartbeat sped up as well. “Here.” He held the iced square to her lips, offering her a bite from the place where he’d taken his own.

The same explosive sexual energy
he’d been feeling for months crackled between them. He knew she felt it, too. He could see the awareness of it in her eyes, the infinitesimal quiver of response of her body.

Her pink li
ps opened and she took the pastry into her mouth, her even white teeth sinking into the sweet. Ethan didn’t even wait until she’d swallowed, the image of her biting him in the throes of passion more than his strained control could take. It overloaded his senses. He tossed the confection on the table and pulled Lily into his arms. He put his hand beneath her chin and tilted her face up for a deep, searing kiss. He dipped his head to press his lips to hers, his tongue tasting her bottom lip, teasing her to unlock the tight seam of her mouth. He broke down her natural and learned resistance, savoring the moment when she surrendered. He’d expected the resistance, but overcame it just the same. The taste of her mouth was intoxicating. He coiled his arms around her, drawing her against the hard intimacy of his body.

Despite Lily’s
less than comfortable attitude toward her body, she knew for damn sure what the hardness pressing against her soft belly meant – Ethan wanted her. Trusting a man with your body, with your pleasure was always difficult. Opening up to a man like Ethan was downright scary. She knew he could take complete and utter control of every aspect of her life. He persisted in his seduction of her mouth and finally she allowed him to kiss her. She had experienced many ‘first’ kisses. A sweet, chaste kiss at a homecoming dance, the first real French kiss in college, and an exploratory kiss that should have led to sex, but hadn’t because she’d been too timid and shy to ask for what she wanted, demand what she needed.

This
first kiss made the world tilt, her toes curl, and the love she felt for this man exploded inside her. His mouth devoured hers. His tongue thrust deep and she forgot everything else but the taste of his mouth and the touch of his body.

Curling her arms around his neck, Lily heard
a groan and didn’t know if it came from her throat or his. She could taste the dark richness of the chocolate on his tongue and the distinct, mind-blowing flavor that was all Ethan Scott. She clung to him, wanting more, needing more. She wanted to wrap herself around him and sink into his warmth.

“Umm, where should I put these?”

Another deliveryman stood in the doorway, smiling at the kissing couple. Ethan stepped away from Lily, growling as he turned and quickly strode into his office.

“Over here is fine,”
Lily motioned to the grinning man. She resisted the urge to press her fingertips against her lips. She also resisted the stronger, more primal urge to run after Ethan and demand he finish what he had started. Her pussy throbbed for his possession and her breasts ached for his touch. She needed him. She needed him so badly.

About halfway through the meeting, Ethan had dismissed Lily and the junior executives and continued behind closed doors with the department heads. The meeting had still not ended by the time Lily usually left for the day. While there was ample work that would keep her busy past quitting time, she didn’t know if she should stay or go. She was anxious and excited, confused about the feelings their kiss had aroused. And, she was feeling slightly hurt. If Ethan had wanted to speak with her, see her before the day ended, he would have made time to be with her. Meeting or no meeting. A small touch of anger mixed in with the hurt. Gathering her purse, she made her way to the parking garage.

Several co-workers passed her as everyone headed for their cars, but Lily was in no hurry. A part of her hoped that Ethan would come after her. She’s felt something when they’d kissed. Something more than the sexual tension that had been flowing between them since she started the job. Something breathtaking. Rare. She knew he had felt it
, too.

She was still thinking of the kiss
when she suddenly realized she was alone in the underground structure. There was still a goodly amount of parked cars, but she heard no one else moving about. Taking her keys in her hand, she hurried to her car. Even though daylight streamed in through the outside, it was still dim inside. Hushed and not in a good way. She shivered, remembering every cheesy horror movie she’d ever seen.

Before she could open the
driver’s side door, a black blur passed by her on the left. Instinctively she moved, pressing her back against the cold metal of the door. She still held the keys in her hand, grateful she hadn’t dropped them in the first flush of panic. Seeing nothing else, she turned back around. She needed to get inside her car as quickly as possible.

Her hands were trembling and unlocking the car was difficult. It was an older model with no remote entry. She
couldn’t help the small scream she gave as another black blur moved past her, this time on the right. As she heard the tumble of the lock, the tap of nails against the concrete floor sounded behind her.

Fear gripped her as she realized sh
e was surrounded by wolves. Shifters. Instinctively, she knew they were far more dangerous than any shifter she’d ever met. They reminded her of demons, filled with evil.

She turne
d around to face her attackers. In front of her was a sickly, grey looking wolf. His coat was ragged and matted. His eyes were an ugly, dirty yellow and malice was stamped across the animal’s features. The creature was larger than any animal she’d ever seen on television or on a movie screen. The wolf growled and two more creatures stepped from the shadows.

Instantly, s
he knew she was staring death in its face.

She held up her hand. “Please. I’ve done nothing to you.”

Several more wolves stepped forward. She fumbled for the door handle. Her one regret was that she’d never make love with Ethan. Never tell him how she really felt.

Did she have time to throw
herself inside and close the door before they attacked?

The noon meeting had morphed into an all afternoon meeting and Ethan was sporting a cock from hell. Hard and stiff and aching from just the taste and feel of Lily’s lips. How the hell was his body going to react when he had her naked and writhing beneath him? His tongue licking the sweet, tangy cream from her pussy?

Happy
, his wolf replied.
Very, very happy.

Ethan agreed. Lily was going to be lucky if he let
her out of his bed for the next month. Then out of their house the next year. He heard the sounds of her moving about in her office and glanced at the large clock at the back of the room. It was time for her to go home. He cursed silently. The day had gone nothing as planned. He’d expected to be done with this meeting an hour ago. In plenty of time to ask Lily out for a romantic dinner and explain a few facts of shifter life to her.

Like telling
her she was his mate.

About damn time.
His wolf was getting mouthy and he couldn’t blame the animal. It was as horny and frustrated as the man was. But not for much longer. As the people around him continued to talk, Ethan realized nothing was more important at this moment than finding and claiming Lily. “This meeting is over.”

He strod
e through the conference room, cursing when he realized he’d waited too long to catch Lily before she left. He’d just pulled off his tie and headed toward the elevator when a feeling of danger washed over him.